Why landless justice and recognition matter to me.

By Danika Smalley

Chief Shakes clan house in Wrangell, AK. Photo courtesy of Danika Smalley.

I am a descendant of Chief Shakes and am from the Naanyaa.aayí clan. As I continue to learn of the ways of my ancestors I am saddened that during the original landless act that Wrangell was forgotten. As we turn into a time of extreme political madness, we are also uncovering massive injustice done to our entire race and at this current time we need to be focusing on positives.

Allowing those forgotten in the original landless act is righting a wrong and with righting that wrong comes a light of happiness and it gives hope for a future. By returning the land it will give us a sense of home and gives life back into our heritage and we can open that up to the public and share with everyone who we are as natives, as southeast islanders. We can boost our economy and make a happier and brighter future for our children.

Landless justice and recognition matters to me because I, as a descendant of multiple Chief Shakes, want to honor my ancestors and revive what can be revived in a modern world. With that comes a future in which my children and grandchildren will be a part of and I hope for their sake that I can leave them with a legacy that will bring happiness and peace to our tribe. Where we can have a place to have pow wows whenever we want, to come together as a tribe and harvest the way our ancestors did. The landless act will provide us the means to do it and with that will come recognition that we are still strong and we are survivors.